Page 24 of Death and Do-Overs

Great. The curse was interesting, sure, but if anyone could have cast it, it didn’t bring us any closer to answers.

“For now, I’d suggest not absorbing the head until the rest of the lab results are complete,” Andrew said.

I didn’t plan on touching Nie anyway, not when she was slowly waking back up. It would kill her. There was also the fact that if she was undead instead of dead, I didn’t even know if I could absorb her if I wanted to.

“Thanks, Andrew,” Rose said.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a couple of pictures of the markings in case we needed them for later.

“I appreciate your efforts,” I told Andrew.

“I’m happy to help,” Andrew said. “I need to go. I’ll check back in if I find anything else.”

With that, Rose and Andrew exchanged sappy goodbyes that made me side-eye Rose as I turned the bathroom light back on. I’d never understand the unguarded divulgence of feelings.

When Rose was done, she turned to me and twisted her lips. “Bernadette’s name is on the passenger list, right?”

“Yes.”

“She could have cursed Nie.”

I nodded. She or anyone else in Piccadilly, Nevermore, or on the train in between. Plus, even if Nie had safely arrived in Nevermore, we had no idea where she’d gone from there.

Rose said, “Then I think you should take Imogen with you for the next part of your investigation, since she’s the only one who has any power over the reaper.”

That implied Rose didn’t intend on coming.

“You made the ticket guy do whatever you wanted with only a word,” I said. “You have super strength. You’re far more useful than Imogen.”

“I can only influence humans.”

It was interesting that Imogen described her own ability the same way. Yet while Rose was unable to influence Bernadette, Imogen had been able to bodysnatch the reaper.

“Plus, I don’t think Bernadette will sit still and let me punch her,” Rose said. “I’ll offer to take over and help Wendy at the shelter so Imogen can go with you to Nevermore.”

I sighed. I needed this resolved as soon as possible, and Imogen was the slowest person I’d ever met. But Rose was right, with the reaper as the prime suspect, I needed some kind of defense against her.

“I’m not waiting around for Imogen to show up,” I said. “She can meet me in Nevermore.”

“What if Bernadette’s waiting for you when you get there?”

“If the reaper wanted to kill me, she could have done that any time. I’ll be fine.”

Or I wouldn’t. But I couldn’t stand around and do nothing. I had to move.

Rose twisted her lips, suggesting she didn’t like it, but also there was nothing she could do to stop me aside from physical restraint.

“Promise you’ll wait for Imogen before going after Bernadette,” she said.

Her jaw was set, the expression intense. Maybe shewouldphysically hold me here if I didn’t agree.

I didn’t love the idea of waiting. But I could check things out in Nevermore, see if I could find out where Nie had gone after she arrived.

“Fine,” I said. “I won’t confront the reaper without Imogen.”

“All right. Be safe.” She squeezed my arm, with a normal amount of pressure this time, then offered a palmful of glass objects. “And take these.”

The objects were shaped like diamonds and filled with green liquid.

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